I'm so happy you said that now I don't think I'm crazy for thinking my dogs have smells. My husband thinks I'm off my rocker. My pups all have nice, warm, cozy doggy smells though.. is the sour smell really strong or new? If so, I'd call the vet..

I feed raw as well and my boys smell pleasant- really no odor or bad breath.

Do you think he was rolling in something in the yard?? here's a little trick for you- I make all my own organic shampoos. After their bath, I rinse in apple cidar vinegar. Not only is ACV a natural bug deterrent, it also makes their coats super shiny and helps with ph balance.

[possums do that when fearful and even my 'hunters par excellence', the Ibizans, won't touch one they find in my yard with a 10 foot pole...they just encircle it and make hilarious "eeeew! how disgusting!" faces]...

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Could it be an anal gland issue or just the testosterone coming out? My one male when he got excited would have a bit of anal release (he was also 8-9months old-rescue)- strange but never came impacted and only happened a few times. But I never had that issue when the dogs were on raw diets- it seemed to correct it or maybe he grew out of it. Good luck!

Dillon stinks too. To me is just smells like "dog".
I spray him with a solution of 25% Apple cidar vinegar and water, then wipe off with a damp towel. Usually good for a couple of weeks. Makes the coat really shiny too.

__________________ Zoopsie Daisy vom Dobereich
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Dillon:b.2/19/09 d.9/28/12 "The best walks in life are always the briefest"

I don't think it's anal glands release.
The smell comes from the skin (neck, face, etc). Maybe his doggy oils smell like that? That's not a strong odor, Scarlett_Rose I can smell it only when I pet/hug him... like sour milk.

He has the smell since he was 8 weeks. It's getting better. Sometimes I can catch a real sweet Doberman smell... mostly when he is waking up.

It may be a testosterone release. He is a real stud
Remember a bruise on his penis ?

Also, he is a bit submissive. That's an interesting observation, Melbrod.

How do you make organic shampoos, sam&macksmom? Can you share?

If Dillon (his brother) smells too I think that's their nature I hope it will go away when they mature.
I will use a solution you recommend, Paul. Thanks.

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My boy Jaxon (4 mths yesterday) also has a bit of an odor. I constantly have to wash his blankets. My girl never smells unless she gets dirty outside. I'm not sure why this is. I'm just glad I'm not the only one with a stinky boy.

I was gonna pm for the shampoo making directions myself.Thanks for asking.
Could you help us out there Samandmacksmom ?
Anytime my girl gets excited, she smells. We are always joking that our girl has sweat glands, we don't care who says other wise!!Lol!The smell does seem to come from her arm pit area,and she DOES get wet there.We say she's a little bit "special".

1 cup castille soap - this is pure soap and will be the base of the shampoo
1 cup distilled water- thins the castille soap. gently stir- but not too much or the castile soap will start to lather.
1 cup apple cider vinegar - must be apple cider - not regular vinegar or white. This acts as a deodorizer and also helps to remove any soap missed during rinsing.
1/3 cup glycerin- glycerin is liquid and can be found at drugstores, supermarts or helalth food stores. This will coat the fur and provide a high gloss. I use vegetable glycerin

Depending on what type of shampoo I'm making, I add a few drops of essential oils. EOs must be mixed in with the other ingredients. They can irritate human and dog skin if placed directly on either of you. So only add 2-3 drops of EOs to your mixture. A little goes a long way.

Eucalyptus oil is known for its flea and mosquito repelling properties. It is used as a germicide. Eucalyptus also can be used for wounds, inflammation, cuts and muscle aches.

Lavender oil is very safe and gentle. It has antibacterial and anti-itch qualities, and can help with skin allergies.

The most useful quality of citronella oil is that of insect repellant. However, it is also useful as an antiseptic and deodorizer.

Neem oil is an herbal remedy for numerous skin disorders. The anti inflammatory and pain relieving properties of neem oil make it useful in fighting scalp psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, yeast infections and mange. It has also been shown to combat ringworm.

Cedarwood oil repels fleas and mosquitoes. It is also wonderful for canine skin rashes and to freshen the coat and skin.

So, there it is. The most important thing to remember when you are ready to wash your fur kid- this product does not lather like we are used to- it doesn't contain SLS, a chemical that makes shampoos foamy. It will get "soapy" but not in the sense we are used to. Put a little on the back, add some water and then use your hands to work the product into the coat. A little goes a long way.

2nd important thing to remember, do not use on the face- near eyes, nose or mouth or the private part areas. We don't want to irritate these sensitive areas.

Sometimes he smells like a lab after he goes to doggy daycare. I do the wipe down with the diluted cider vinegar too, and that takes care of it. If he had itchy skin, maybe it is the skin. I bet the fish oil will help! Also feeding him whole fish if you're doing raw!

Nietzsche smells so sweet. I have even had other people that hate dogs and their "smell" comment on it. He used to get a weird odor that was only noticeable when I'd let him back into the house after he had been sunning himself, but after I started giving him ACV, it went away.